[X] My Assistant

[Drace]

Captain is just under major and colonel really. Captains are in charge of the individual companies that make a regiment, so around 300+ troops, depending on the regiment. And lieutenant for the navy is just 2 steps below being the captain of the ship itself. So neither are much to laugh at really.

Edit* And ya, none of us seem to be trained in it, do we?

2nd Edit* And for my sumarry of the ranks, checked them on here

[Zyerne]

Army (Guard) Captain and Naval Lieutenant are both OF-2 in contemporay militaries, with Naval Captain at OF-5.

Assuming the same holds true for 40k, Augustian is a little underranked for his time of service, by current standard. 40k of course has life extending therapies so time of advancement could be slower.

Edit: I kept Ysabell's rank low so as not to be higher ranked than Augustian with half the time served. By todays standard, Lt Commander and Lt Colonel would be realistic ranks for both, with Ysabell having just been promoted when she was reassigned.

[Karoline]

Cornelius bows to the Countess as she leaves, having promised as well for a meeting. Cornelius nods at the conversations as it ebbed and flowed, particularly with the introductions of the new retinue members, he gives a nod to Synthia. "I had a few training flights on the Valkyries back before I heeded my current calling. Those were the days, the experience of combat drops since then brings back memories."

Did you mean to say that to Ysabell? Synthia has no clue about valkyries or combat drops. Or was he nodding in response to Synthia and then speaking to Ysabell? Just want to make sure before I pose her looking confused about what the heck you're talking about (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[PBTHHHHT]

Did you mean to say that to Ysabell? Synthia has no clue about valkyries or combat drops. Or was he nodding in response to Synthia and then speaking to Ysabell? Just want to make sure before I pose her looking confused about what the heck you're talking about (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

oopos, yeah, I mistyped. my bad

[Tanegar]

Lurker, I think you might have confused the skills Scrutiny and Awareness. Per the description on page 86 of the core book, Scrutiny is more about up-close, detailed examination and face-to-face interaction, while Awareness (p. 77) is used for the character's consciousness of his surroundings. Not sure it would have made much of a difference, just something to be aware (heh) of.

[LurkerOutThere]

Ouch you are right as I said before I'm learning here too feel free to retest privately if you all wish.

[Tanegar]

Eh, they're both tied to the same attribute (Perception) so it wouldn't have changed the actual tests. No worries. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Karoline]

It does if you have the awareness skill (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Means I passed instead of failed.

[Zyerne]

I just checked the Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy hierachy's on Lexicanum and the ranks appear broadly in line with contemporary at least until the higher echelons of the General Staff. IG Captain is specifically listed as being a combat commander which is something it seems like Augustian has moved past.

Unfortunately Riegien is still on new member probation, otherwise I'd PM directly, if only to explain why Ysabell will be addressing him as Major.

[Riegien]

Yea, you're probably right that I should be a higher than a captain, I just didn't want to outrank what I felt my skills showed I could do. I also figured that as part of a mechanized unit, the command structure may survive longer. It seemed like, in the very little I've read, a lot of the promotions come from attrition at the top. I'll think about rekajiggering my backstory if its an issue and lurker doesn't mind.

Out of curiosity, how long does newbie probation last?

[Zyerne]

I believe it's 10 posts. Alternatively, you can go post here.

[Critias]

I wouldn't get too hung up on rank, personally. The galaxy's a big place, and not every Imperial Navy and Imperial Guard rank is going to "feel" the same in every Guard or Navy unit. I mean, there are IG regiments where guys knife fight to see who's gonna get what rank, units where the officers get voted in, units where it's all hereditary and based on social status/noble birth, etc, etc. Even in some of Dan Abnett's novels (some of the best 40k stuff out there) he assigns real world Captain-type duties to guys he assigns the rank of Sergeant to.

[LurkerOutThere]

As Critas points out rank is pretty fluid and there are a variety of explanations for a campaigner of any rank to remain.

In other news I should point out a few disclaimers before we go much further, just so people don't get any of the wrong impressions.

First off big disclaimer: I've got a keen interest in WH40K but my interest and knowledge pretty much begins and ends with the RPG books and what I pick upw hile wiki walking, so if i screw up some details I apologize. I will try to correct or I may just not care as I'm trying to draw the universe in terms that makes sense in my head beyond the grim and gritty blah blah blah only war framework. What I'm saying is don't expect me to be an expert on the 40x millennium, I'll only sadly disappoint.

The other note as we've all seen, this is my first attempt at running this system and I've never got to play it, so if I screw some things up on that score just point it out to me I ask your forgiveness on such occurrences and will try and keep them to a minimum.

Finally just so no one misunderstands the tone of this game the WH40k universe is dark to the point of ridiculousness. The savior of mankind is a skeletal personage on a golden throne who thousands are sacrificed to so that his tortured psychic scream can allow mutants who would be otherwise executed to see their way through the depths of hell to enable faster then light trouble. The administratum likely kills more people through accident or bullheadedness then the inquisition kills on purpose. The state religion worships the emperor as a god, the same emperor who was absolutely explicit (up to and including razing a wolrd to the ground for) that he not be worshiped as a god while he still lived. Psykers are hated and feared even though they are absolutely necessary to the empires continued survival, never mind that the Emperor was himself a psyker of supposedly staggering power.

Despite all that, or perhaps because of it it's a galaxy desperately in need of heroes. So this game is going to be a bit more on the swashbuckling side then the grim and gritty, i intended to ask folks hard questions about where their character fits in the empire. If all goes well you'll face other servants of the empire, demons, xenos, perhaps even members of your own family and triumph over them. The game is your to run in many ways, I'm just here to officiate and set down a few slight guidelines so my head don't explode. While ship combats and personal combats are an important part of the game I'd be doing roleplaying a disservice if i didn't also touch on the social aspects (like the court scene your siting through)

So there's my soapbox, anyone who this color is off from what they were expecting is welcome to bow out now with no hard feelings, everyone else hold on as after the initial bit of the party things will pick up quite steadily.

[LurkerOutThere]

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit but tonight i'm finally getting down to working out the nitty gritty of your guys ship points, profit factor etc etc. Does anyone have anything that provides a static modifier to that?

[Zyerne]

Somebody does, which I realise isn't massively helpful.

Think it's the Explorator.

[LurkerOutThere]

That reminds me can anyone who hasn't posted their character in the Recruiting/OOC thread please do so? I'm going to collate everyone's character into one post and update them and that would give me a hand doing so.

More stuff from the: I do what I want files. For those of you curious I have done the figuring and based on your warrant path your going to have a profit factor of 35 to start. Maybe a little more depending on activities although obviously I don't want you to start with too much wealth, it defeats some of the point of the game. Your ship will be a light cruiser, I'm still crunching numbers but I will let you know that your ship will end up being more powerfull then it would be under standard rules, potentially a fair chunk more so depending on your decisions during aquiring it. There will be role playing and mechanical choices and consequences to some of your actions during the recovery of the Divine Inspiration. Maybe it's because i'm a firefly devotee but I intend to spend a lot of time/roleplay around the ship and your interactions with it's NPC crew that may affect it's capabilities. More nitty gritty details to follow when you have your conversation with Alejandro. All of this is complicated by the fact i'm still working to digest the space combat rules so if when alls said and done it looks like i've made a really boneheaded move with the ship construction I invite commentary.

[Zyerne]

That reminds me can anyone who hasn't posted their character in the Recruiting/OOC thread please do so? I'm going to collate everyone's character into one post and update them and that would give me a hand doing so.

This has reminded me you were talking about presents for those of us that haven't had them. If you haven't done them yet, I wouldn't mind a wound reroll.

[Tanegar]

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit but tonight i'm finally getting down to working out the nitty gritty of your guys ship points, profit factor etc etc. Does anyone have anything that provides a static modifier to that?

My "Duty to Humanity" choice for Lure of the Void imposes a -1 penalty to starting group Profit Factor. The missionary, Cornelius, made the same choice, for a total -2.

Explorator-Adept Zacharias Hakkonen

Background:

[ Spoiler ]

Hailing from the Forge World of Land's Hope, Zacharias Hakkonen began his career of service to the Machine Cult as a soldier in the Skitarii Tech-Guard. He is one of a handful of survivors from the ill-fated Heimdall Squadron. A splinter fleet of Archmagos Paracelcus Thule's Explorator Fleet, Heimdall Squadron set out from Port Wander to visit the xeno machine-world Illisk, record its wonders and its heresies in the name of the Omnissiah, plunder such of its tech as could be deemed orthodox, and destroy the blasphemous remains.

Heimdall Squadron, consisting of the cruiser Lance of the Omnissiah and three frigate escorts, made the warp jump to Illisk more or less without incident. Shortly after planetfall, however, it became apparent that something was seriously wrong. It began with disappearing servitors, several of which were later found with their organic components flayed and the blessed augmetics missing. Security was tightened: servitors were deployed in groups rather than singly, with armed escorts. It didn't help. Soon whole groups, including combat-servitor escorts, were being found in pieces.

A week after making planetfall, techpriests monitoring vox transmissions received a panicked call from a junior technomat gibbering about "steel skeletons" and "green lightning;" the transmission cut off in a burst of static. Shortly afterward, the base camp perimeter came under assault from the most blasphemous of foes: Necrons. It was later determined that there was a Necron tomb-vault somewhere on Illisk, and that an errant servitor had awakened its guardians. The unrelenting ferocity of the unholy machines broke the perimeter defenses within minutes. Hakkonen and the other Skitarii fought a desperate holding action to buy the Magos and his Adepts enough time to evacuate to the landing shuttles. Zacharias Hakkonen saw many of his comrades die hideously, their skins peeled off by the Necron Flayed Ones or their bodies rendered into molecules by the ghastly green light of the Necron gauss flayer weapons.

As Hakkonen and a ragged group of surviving Tech-Guard rushed up the ramp to board the last shuttle, a Necron wraith materialized in the passenger bay and began slaughtering everyone within reach. The Skitarii managed to keep the machine from the cockpit, and eventually put it down with a withering fusillade of las-bolts, but fewer than a dozen of the hundred-plus passengers survived. The survivors heaved a collective sigh and offered thanks to the Omnissiah for their deliverance, but their relief was premature.

As Heimdall Squadron prepared to break orbit, a group of Necron frigates rose from Illisk's surface, intent on preventing the Machine Cult ships from escaping to spread word of the Necrons' presence on Illisk. The Lance of the Omnissiah was struck amidships by the first salvo and shattered into half a dozen flaming hunks of wreckage. Her escorting frigates escaped immediate death only by dint of desperate evasive maneuvers, but one by one the implacable Necron ships hunted them down. The Heavenly Scribe was chased down and boarded; the last vid-transmission from her bridge showed her captain shouting invocations to the Machine God before being split open from collarbones to pelvis and his viscera strewn across the command pulpit. The Light of Knowledge apparently self-destructed rather than suffer the same fate; she exploded almost immediately after coming under fire, despite suffering no more than superficial damage. Only the fact that the frigates had scattered rather than keep formation saved the Swift Seeker - after turning from the destruction of the other frigates, the Necron ships were faced with a long stern chase to catch their final prey.

Aboard the Swift Seeker, the ship's own techpriests and enginseers pressed everyone with the slightest amount of technical training into service, including Zacharias Hakkonen and the other Tech-Guard. Voices were raised in frenetic prayer to the Deus Mechanicus as red-robed figures rushed frantically to and fro, performing the most powerful, the most arcane rites of propitiation to the ship's machine spirits. Every last erg of power was coaxed from the drives, from the void shields, from the weapons, as the frigate raced across the void to the waiting safety of the warp point. Finally the Necron ships drew within range and opened fire. The Swift Seeker shuddered as the Necron gauss weapons blasted away chunks of her superstructure; the prayers of her crew reached an even more hysterical pitch. Conduits burst, intercoolers exploded, and men died as machinery strained past its limits failed catastrophically. The Necron ships drew ever closer; they were within ten kilometers of boarding range; within five kilometers; within one kilometer...

Finally the Swift Seeker barrelled past the edge of the Illisk system's gravity well and into free space where she could safely engage the warp drive. The fabric of space was rent asunder as the frigate tore open a portal into the Empyrean and vanished inside, escaping her pursuers as her compartments echoed with frenzied prayers of thanksgiving. It had taken Heimdall Squadron less than a month to make the journey from Port Wander to Illisk; it took the Swift Seeker, damaged and afflicted as she was, six months to limp home.

Over the next year, Zacharias Hakkonen was promoted to Explorator-Adept and ordered to join the Vorhees Rogue Trader dynasty's efforts to salvage a ship called the Divine Inspiration. He was to oversee a crew of technomats and junior Adepts restoring the vessel's tech-systems, her power core, her plasma and warp drives, her augurs, and all the myriad subsystems scattered throughout the ship. Afterward, he was to remain aboard and serve as the ship's chief enginseer, advising her Lord-captain on all matters pertaining to holy and unholy technologies, to maintain the purity and orthodoxy of the Divine Inspiration's systems, and whenever possible to seek out examples of lost and/or new technology on the ship's journeys.

Statistics:

[ Spoiler ]

Weapon Skill 35 -5
Ballistic Skill 45 +3 +5
Strength 25
Toughness 35
Agility 35
Intelligence 45 +5
Perception 45 +3
Willpower 35
Fellowship 25 -5

Origin Path:
Forge World
-5 WS, +5 Int
Common Lore (Tech, Machine Cult) are untrained Basic Skills
Credo Omnissiah: Technical Knock Talent
Fit for Purpose: +3 BS
Stranger to the Cult: -10 to Tests involving knowledge of Imperial Creed, -5 to Fel tests involving Ecclesiarchy members in formal settings
Starting Wounds: 11 (6 + [1d5 = 4] + 1)
Starting Fate Points: 2
Stubjack
Quick Draw Talent
Intimidate is trained Basic Skill
+5 BS, -5 Fel
1d5 = 3 Insanity Points
Duty-Bound
Duty to Humanity: +3 Per, -1 group starting Profit Factor
Dark Voyage
Things Man Was Not Meant to Know: Resistance (Fear) Talent
Marked by Darkness: 1d5 = 4 Insanity Points
Renown
Peer (Adeptus Mechanicus) Talent
Explorator
Skills: Common Lore (Tech, Machine Cult) (Int), Forbidden Lore (Archaeotech, Adeptus Mechanicus) (Int), Literacy (Int), Logic (Int), Speak Language (Explorator Binary, Low Gothic, Techna-Lingua) (Int), Tech-Use (Int), Trade (Technomat) (Int)
Trait: Mechanicus Implants
Talents: Basic Weapon Training (Universal), Melee Weapon Training (Universal), Logis Implant
Gear: Good-craftsmanship hellgun, best-craftsmanship shock staff, enforcer light carapace, multikey, void suit, injector, sacred unguents, micro-bead, combi-tool, dataslate, servo-skull familiar.
Additional Implants: Manipulator mechadendrite, utility mechadendrite
Additional Talent: Mechadendrite Use (Utility)

[Drace]

Also, my calamity origin puts a -1 modifier on starting profit factor

[LurkerOutThere]

Heh well you guys are going to be nice and poor, but that kinda makes sense given your one arm of a larger dynasty.

[LurkerOutThere]

Alright i'll make a deal because i'm ultimately a benevolent GM and don't want folks to die (too) easily. Anyone that rolled 1 on their wounds may reroll but they have to keep the second result.

I'll look through the books and decide what i'm going to give you for other benes in a bit.

[Zyerne]

Much appreciated.

[ Spoiler ]

Wounds re-roll (1d5=3)

[LurkerOutThere]

I don't have time to do Hax's departure post now (plus I wanted to give folks a chance to pose any questions or try and make a favorable impresion on him if they chose, good social skills/rolls are recommended. The man is a sector governor so there are risks and rewards to attracting his attention. After that we're going to transpose things, people will have an opportunity to circulate at the party if they wish but I'm also going to post the big meeting with Alejandro. Simultanious to that meeting you will have one day to pursue any interests on Scinitilia before you ship out for port wander. During that time you may try and make aquisition tests with your profit factor once I give it to you.

So here is the schedule, this can be slid if people get into conversations or like that take a bit.

Tonight (Sunday) Conversation with Hax/Hax's Departure/Party Stuff
Monday-Wednesday: Briefing from Alejandro/Party Stuff/Start Last Scintilia Business
Wed-Friday-Scintilia Business, Trael
Friday-Arrive Port Wander

[Zyerne]

How will you be working acquisistion tests? 1 per char? As many as we want?

Also, how big is Scintilla for acquisition purposes?

[Drace]

Adding to the acquisitions question, I just realized none of us did the first free acquisition +0. Is that going to be done here, or was that included in our bonuses?